Lecture 1.1: Nuts & Bolts of the Brain Flashcards
What are the 2 divisions of the nervous system?
- Somatic (voluntary)
- Autonomic (involuntary)
What are the 2 divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System?
- Sympathetic
- Parasympathetic
What do Afferent Neurones do?
Afferent neurones carry information from sensory receptors of the skin and other organs to the central nervous system
What do Efferent Neurones do?
Efferent neurones carry motor information away from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands of the body
What is the Coronal Plane?
- Frontal Plane
- Separates front and back
What is the Transverse Plane?
- Horizontal Plane
- Separates up and down
What is Sagittal Plane?
- Midline Plane
- Separates left and right
What is Parasagittal Plane?
- Midline Plane but not in the middle,
- Separates left and right but not in equal parts
What is Dorsal?
Posterior
What is Ventral?
Anterior
What is Rostral?
Towards nose
What is Caudal?
Towards tail bone
What is a Sulcus in the Cerebral Cortex?
A depression or fissure in the surface of the brain
What is a Gyrus in the Cerebral Cortex?
A ridge on the cerebral cortex
What does Grey Matter contain?
Neurone Rich Regions
What does White Matter contain?
Myelinated Axons
In the PNS collections of nerve cells are called….?
Ganglia
What are Nuclei?
- Neurones formed into coherent groups
- E.g. Lateral Geniculate Nucleus of the Thalamus
LOOK at diagrams for anatomy
What does the Forebrain contain? (3)
- Cerebrum
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
What is the role of the Cerebrum?
- 85% of the brain
- Initiates and coordinates movement and regulates
temperature - Other areas of the cerebrum enable speech,
judgment, thinking and reasoning, problem-solving,
emotions and learning
What is the role of the Thalamus?
Processing centre for sensory information
What is the role of the Hypothalamus?
Control centre for the autonomic nervous system
What is the role of the Hippocampus?
Plays key role in memory consolidation
What is the Midbrain?
Vital connection between the forebrain and hindbrain
What makes up the Midbrain? (3)
Topmost part of brain stem: colliculi, tegmentum and peduncles
What does the Hindbrain contain? (3)
- Pons
- Medulla oblongata
- Cerebellum
What is role of the Hindbrain?
Coordinates functions that are fundamental to survival, including respiratory rhythm, motor activity, sleep, and wakefulness
What is the role of the Medulla Oblongata?
Autonomic vital function such as heart rate and breathing
What is the role of the Pons?
Connects brain w spinal cord and cranial nerve nuclei
What is the role of the Cerebellum?
Making postural adjustments in order to maintain balance, co-ordination
What are Brodmann Areas?
- Area of cerebral cortex defined by cell histology and
organisation - Related to function
- More detail than needed
What is the Corpus Callosum?
Separates the left and right hemispheres of the brain
What are the Layers of the Meninges? (3)
- Dura mater
- Arachnoid mater
- Pia mater
What is the Structure of the Dura Mater?
- Thick, strong membrane layer located directly under
your skull and vertebral column - It consists of two layers of connective tissue
What is the Structure of the Arachnoid Mater?
- Thin membrane with thread-like processes that make
contact with the pia mater - Contains arteries and is filled with CSF
- Increases in size to form cisterns
What is the Structure of the Pia Mater?
- Envelopes the contours of the brain and spinal cord
- Composed of delicate connective tissue and has many
tiny blood vessels
Where is Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) secreted from?
Secreted by the choroid plexuses (modified ependymal cells) of the ventricles
How much CSF is produced in a day?
3-500mls produced/day
CSF Contents
- Similar constituents to blood plasma
- Less albumin and glucose
What is the role of CSF? (3)
- Bathes the brain and cushions the it against
mechanical agitation - A reservoir for metabolic substrates for the brain
- Dissolves & carries away products of metabolism from
the brain
Where is CSF taken up again?
Resorption in venous sinuses via arachnoid granulations
What is the Blood-Brain Barrier?
Physical barrier preventing passage of molecules and cells into the brain
What is the role of the BBB?
- Protection against toxins & pathogens
- Maintain a constant intracerebral chemical
environment - Facilitates and restricts molecules/drugs from the
blood to the CSF
How does the BBB control what molecules can move from blood to CSF? (2)
- Cerebral capillary endothelial cells have tight junctions
- Astrocytic foot processes
